Basil van Rooyen

Basil van Rooyen ( born April 19, 1939 in Johannesburg ) is a former South African racing driver.

Basil van Rooyen early showed his talent when he struck with an identical Lotus Cortina Sir John Whitmore, who was considered a master on this vehicle in a race in South Africa.

In the 1960s, van Rooyen was the top drivers in the touring car races in South Africa and Rhodesia. He denied his race with Ford Mustangs and Alfa Romeos.

1968 and 1969 he drove also single-seater racing. At the Grand Prix of South Africa, he drove the old Cooper T79 of John Love. Van Rooyen forced to retire with an overheated Climax engine. The following year he earned his home Grand Prix with McLaren M7A the Lawson team. After a respectable ninth place in the training stopped him a brake failure.

1973, after more years in touring car racing, van Rooyen retired from racing. In 1975, he came back and was still driving a few seasons in Formula Atlantic.

Literature and sources

  • Rainer W. Schlegelmilch: Portraits of the 60's. Könemann, 1994, ISBN 3-89508-047-0
  • Steve Small: Grand Prix Who's Who. Travel Publishing, London 1999, ISBN 1-902007-46-8
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